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2025: (Impossible) Solar System Challenge
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Jenny
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Jul 14, 2025 08:42AM
Check under that one cabinet behind the dust bunny. Your marbles are hiding out there.
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That explains everything... All my cabinets went to the tip not so long ago. I guess they are now lost for ever 🤪
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😂😂😂😂😂😂
Hi Ashley, for associated with the word spot I was thinking of using
Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb with the spots on cover following author initials. Is this too much of a stretch or will you accept it?
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Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb with the spots on cover follow..."Do you mean the big purple dot on the cover, because I think that's a nice association... :)
Ashley wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "Hi Ashley, for associated with the word spot I was thinking of using Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb with the spo..."I was talking about the full stops following initials but can change it to the big purple spot if you prefer
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Bonded in Death by [author:J.D. Robb|1706..."I think either is fine, but since it's Jupiter, that jumped right out at me!
Ashley wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "Hi Ashley, for associated with the word spot I was thinking of using Bonded in Death by [aut..."Thank you
Have we got a monthly task/challenge Ashley?
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ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Is there any info on the monthly challenge aside from the link on the spreadsheet? I’m currently on my phone and the link on the sheet won’t open so if someone could just tell me which challenge is..."The link on the SS for August is not active yet, so it won't open until it's loaded by Ashley. I just checked mine and my link is blank, so yours likely is too until it's loaded in.
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Oh fun, a spell it out! Thank you Ashley
Does anyone have any idea on to finding books for this months timed task?
Anastasia wrote: "Does anyone have any idea on to finding books for this months timed task?"I'm curious too. I'm thinking a romance with two couples? But usually a romance is a main couple and a side couple so that wouldn't work. I know Vera Wong had a lot of MC POVs, but I think there were 5 in that. Not sure about the sequel.
I googled and The Guest List, The Poisonwood Bible, My Sister's Keeper, and Every Lost Country were suggested, but always debatable if that info is actually right. There's a GR list for at least 4 POVs, so there are probably some that are too many: https://share.google/NsuohaeFsiBgBO896
Was wondering whether the Thursday Murder Club books would work? They are a club of four although there are other characters that we also hear from particularly the detectives?
Ugh, tasks like that are difficult because you don't know if a book actually fits unless you read it t. Or I guess ask others and trust they are remembering correctly. Exactly 4 POV's MC's, hm. C, The Guest List I don't think is right. I read it for book club and there were more than 4 reoccuring point of views throughout the book.
Just looking at the top 10 of that list, I already see some I've read from the top 10 on there that are more than 4 POVs
I can't remember for One of us is lying. Four main characters, but there are other big characters and can't remember if they keep getting POv's or not, which would bring it 5-7ish if it's Simon and friend also like the show. Been a few years and I can't recall.
I'll keep checking back with the thread for suggestions, but can't add much more this month to my TBR Tower. It's dangerously huge in August. If a book I read happens to fit will post here, but 4 POV's only is specific, but I'll keep an eye out.
Anastasia wrote: "Was wondering whether the Thursday Murder Club books would work? They are a club of four although there are other characters that we also hear from particularly the detectives?"Google says five MC POVs, but ChatGPT says 4:
*The Thursday Murder Club* by Richard Osman primarily follows **four main character POVs**, each a member of the club:
1. **Elizabeth Best** – A former intelligence agent and the unofficial leader of the group. Her perspective is central and often drives the plot.
2. **Joyce Meadowcroft** – A retired nurse who writes diary-style entries. Her POV is one of the most prominent and personable.
3. **Ibrahim Arif** – A retired psychiatrist. His POV appears less frequently but offers thoughtful, analytical insight.
4. **Ron Ritchie** – A former trade union leader. His chapters provide a more direct and sometimes confrontational viewpoint.
In addition to these four, there are occasional chapters from:
* **PC Donna De Freitas** and **DS Chris Hudson**, the local police officers who interact with the group.
* Brief insights from other minor characters when relevant to the mystery.
So while **Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron, and Ibrahim** are the main character POVs, the narrative does rotate through several perspectives to enhance the storytelling.
That one may work for you then!
Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Ugh, tasks like that are difficult because you don't know if a book actually fits unless you read it t. Or I guess ask others and trust they are remembering correctly. Exactly 4 POV's MC's, hm. C..."
I agree: there's no way to know until you're in the book. I've found ChatGPT is more accurate than any other AI at this point, but it's still only guidance. Nothing absolutely sure. And yeah, that list is 4+, so unknown if any are exactly four, but it's a starting point maybe. Tbh, I've read some books on that list and I don't remember enough or didn't like them enough to reread even if I did remember lol.
Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "That one may work for you then!"I feel like it's a good bet maybe. Unless additional characters having their own chapters is more main character than side character energy...
C wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "That one may work for you then!"I feel like it's a good bet maybe. Unless additional characters having their own chapters is more main character than side charac..."
I sort of figured that the Club were the main characters since the series is named for them and even though the detectives do help them, they are not part of the club and would be considered secondary characters, even though we hear their povs
Mod
Thanks!!
Yeah I think side characters can have brief POV's as long as they are not main characters, so it does sound like that one should work
Thanks for the spell-out! Now let's see if I can get a good amount of these books read this month.
The internet says The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin should work. I may keep looking but is a possibility.
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📣 August Bonus Alert! (Yeah, I know it’s August 3rd. Shhhh. Let’s just pretend time is a concept.)
Welcome to the (Impossible) Solar System Bonus Challenge for August! This month, we’ve got a Spell Out Challenge Bonus and a Timed Task to test your stamina, creativity, and willingness to scream into the void over Goodreads search functions
🌇 Sunset Spell-Out Challenge
This month’s Bonus Challenge is the Sunset Spell-Out 🌅 — Match any books you read in August (for Jupiter's Solar System tasks) with this Spell Out and earn bonus points!
📚 Full details & rules here
and now... to address the elephant in the room....
⏳ August Timed Task: 4 POVs or Bust
🪐Read a book with EXACTLY FOUR different POV main characters.
📅 Must be read and completed between 8/1/25 and 8/31/25
This is not “approximately four.”
This is not “three and a prologue.”
This is not “multi-POV but some of them only pop in once.”
This is FOUR. POVs. Only. 🧠
This task is diabolical. Truly. If you find a good one, bless the group by sharing it in the thread — we’ll be building a list of confirmed fits.
I'm really hoping the one I have lined up works, because I've just used up all my Audible credits and I have less than £5 in my bank account, so can't buy any books! 😂
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🐍 Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliott McLemore
Does it have only four POVs?
Yes! It is famously structured around four: the siblings Quin and Greta, and the royals each is tangled with. Each is a defined, repeatedly returned-to voice.
Ruling: ✅ Yes, clean 4-POV.
🗺️ The 100 by Kass Morgan (Book 1)
Does it have only four POVs?
Yes! The original book cycles tightly among Clarke, Bellamy, Wells, and Glass. There aren’t hidden, prologue, or “one chapter and gone” voices.
Ruling: ✅ Yes, clean 4-POV.
🧛 Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - an aside, there might be a 5th----
Does it have only four POVs?
Yes! Domingo, Atl, Ana, and Nick—each is a repeated, substantive viewpoint in the novel itself (not counting a single epigraph or mini-prologue).
Ruling: ✅ Yes, four clean voices.
I pulled this one from AI suggestions, so beware, although this one seems to be the most consistent in its reliability with criteria:
Here are some additional books that have exactly four point-of-view (POV) characters throughout the main narrative, fitting your strict criteria:
1. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
A sprawling family literary novel with four central POVs. Franzen intricately weaves together the voices of Patty, Walter, Joey, and Richard, all consistently revisited as the main lens of the sprawling, character-driven story.
2. Every Lost Country by Steven Heighton
A literary adventure set in Tibet, it brings four protagonists into a complex rescue mission. The shifting perspectives reveal the story’s tension and ethical questions without exceeding four core voices.
3. The Rules of Half by Jenna Patrick
This contemporary novel explores mental illness and small-town secrets—it’s specifically designed with four substantial narrators, each offering a different emotional vantage point on shared events.
4. Darker by Four by June CL Tan
A newer fantasy title structured on four primary voices involved in a deadly, magical conflict—a tight cast, each chapter announced clearly by the narrator.
Quick Mentions (do your own double-check as details may vary):
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver – Four daughters’ perspectives remain at the core throughout the book, though there’s a brief maternal commentary. It’s often cited for “true” 4-POV structure.
Infinity Son by Adam Silvera – Advertised as focusing on four viewpoints, but reader experience may vary as sometimes a POV can seem less prominent.
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which one Sammy!? Share with the classsss!
I've read Freedom, but it was more than 500 books ago... I definitely remember those characters, but I couldn't swear there weren't any others in there somewhere!
Ashley wrote: "Sammy wrote: "I'm really hoping the one I have lined up works, because I've just used up all my Audible credits and I have less than £5 in my bank account, so can't buy any books! 😂"which one Sam..."
Twenty Years After
Can I double check that below is the right book as the book summary and AI don't match with anyone named Quin and Greta? It is Cade and a Gael/ Valencia in the summary. 🐍 Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliott McLemore
Does it have only four POVs?
Yes! It is famously structured around four: the siblings Quin and Greta, and the royals each is tangled with. Each is a defined, repeatedly returned-to voice.
Ruling: ✅ Yes, clean 4-POV.
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OMG. 845 pages! SAMMY!
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In literature, point of view (POV) refers to the perspective from which a story is told.Your book can have more than four characters, but only four of them get to tell the story from their perspective.
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🐍 Venom & Vow by Anna-Mari..."
This is why I don't trust these suggestions, however, it seems like it's still ok, despire the name errors...
In "Venom & Vow", the main characters are Cade McKenna, a transgender prince who sometimes pretends to be his brother, Patrick McKenna, and Valencia Palafox, a dama who also serves as the assassin Gael Palma. The story follows their intertwined journeys as they navigate their secret identities, their growing feelings for each other, and the curse that binds their families.
However - there is another character "Bryna" listed, who may not have a POV, but is still important - which would be fine, as long as there are no chapters from her POV.
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It's less the length and more the content. I wish I was smart enough to really understand those old classics with 1 million pages. I've started reading them WHILE listening to the audio and that helps, but I don't know...
don't sell youself short Ashley, you managed really well with Ulysses. I'm sure you understood more than I did on my first read!
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This is because I had to google questions about each chapter. I made notes (about my sanity) while I read it, and then plugged them all in ... like....
"did I just read that xyz happened?"
"why are all these drunk(?) men in a maternity ward?"
"why is he still carrying the soap?"
"why are THERE FIREWORKS GOING OFF!!!"
Ashley wrote: "Lexi wrote: "Can I double check that below is the right book as the book summary and AI don't match with anyone named Quin and Greta? It is Cade and a Gael/ Valencia in the summary. 🐍 Venom & Vow..."
Out of curiosity I typed in Google how many POV's does this book have, and it returns it has 2, not 4, so no idea how accurate whichever site is:
Based on reviews, Venom & Vow is told from two distinct points of view:
Cade: A transgender prince.
Valencia/Gael: A bigender assassin/lady.
The story alternates between their perspectives, exploring their individual journeys and how their paths intertwine amidst a backdrop of political intrigue and a looming curse.
Teehee!Poor Ashley is never going to look at soap the same way again...
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😒🤦♀️🤷♀️
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This is one of those times where I wish I had a better memory for the specifics of books. I'm sure I've read more than one 4 POV book... can I tell you any of them, NO
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Every Lost Country by Steven Heighton is narrated in a third-person omniscient style, but the story focalizes through several key characters. That gives it multiple perspectives akin to limited third‑person POVs. It’s not divided into first-person chapters, but you still get distinct narrative focus on several protagonists.
📖 Main POV Characters and Perspectives:
Lewis Book – The Canadian expedition doctor. His internal conflict between duty to help refugees and the principles of non‑violence is central. We get deep access to his motivations and moral struggles.
Sophie Book – His teenage daughter. The opening scene is from her vantage point—watching Tibetan refugees and reacting emotionally. Her pursuit of her father and her emotional reckoning is filtered through her experience.
Wade Lawson – The mountain expedition leader. Driven by ambition to reach the summit, Lawson is focalized in sections that expose how obsession blinds him to the moral crisis unfolding.
Amaris – A Chinese‑Canadian filmmaker embedded with the climb. Her sections reflect her cultural identity, conflicted loyalties, and her role when she joins Lewis in aiding the injured refugees.
🧾 Are there any other POVs?
There are brief moments where the narrative drifts into others—local Tibetans, porters, refugees—but these are limited and not fleshed out as standalone perspectives. The core story hinges on those four central characters.
Because the novel uses omniscient narration filtered through these four major characters, you could argue it effectively has four distinct POVs for your purpose.
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📖 Narrative Style & POV Structure
The novel is written in third-person, but it employs multiple limited POV focalizations. Each POV character has deep internal access, making the voice feel personal—even though it's not first-person narration
Jenna Patrick has explicitly expressed her love for multi‑POV storytelling, aiming to explore events through multiple characters’ lenses
🧠 Core POV Characters
From critic summaries and the structure of the story, these appear to be the main POV perspectives:
Regan Whitmer – A fifteen-year-old teen who shows up unannounced in Half Moon Hollow, seeking out her biological father after her mother's suicide. Much of the emotional and narrative thrust happens through her experience of loss, displacement, and forming uneasy new bonds
Will Fletcher – Regan’s father, who lives with severe mental illness following personal tragedy. His internal turmoil, guilt, and resistance to becoming a father again are focal aspects of the narrative
reddit.com
Janey Fletcher – Will’s younger sister and legal guardian. Her perspective as caregiver and artist underscores the sacrifices and emotional labor she endures. (While there’s not explicit chapter breakdown listing Janey, reviewers reference her internal conflict and role closely, implying narrative focus through her, especially around caregiving and identity as a sister)
Lindsay Shepherd – The new high school principal who becomes close to the Fletcher family and offers compassion where the rest of the town rejects them. Though it’s less confirmed if chapters are focalized through her, commentary highlights how her interactions and emotional arc shape the story significantly
✅ Does it fit a “four POVs only” challenge?
It appears that the novel centers on these four primary perspectives:
Character Role in POV
Regan Coming-of-age, grief, outsider’s view
Will Mental illness, guilt, fatherhood
Janey Caregiver struggles, identity, sacrifice
Lindsay Outsider ally, empathy and connection
There may be brief narrative slips into other townspeople or minor characters, but the novel’s emotional weight and structure revolve around these four viewpoints 👌.
⚠️ A few caveats
Unlike novels explicitly labeled with chapter headers naming POV characters, I didn’t find a table of contents listing each narrator. The identification of Janey and Lindsay as focal POVs comes mostly from review descriptions that emphasize their emotional and thematic significance.
There could be minor focal shifts to other characters, but they’re not central enough to shift the core structure.
🧐 Final Take
Yes—The Rules of Half appears to use four distinct third-person focal perspectives: Regan, Will, Janey, and Lindsay. That makes it a solid match for your exactly four POVs guideline, assuming you’re flexible about third-person rather than first-person narration.
Ashley wrote: "This is not “multi-POV but some of them only pop in once.”
This is FOUR. POVs. Only. 🧠."
With this, that means a bit trickier. Some it's not four main character POV's and some sides briefly allowed, correct? Only 4 POV's total allowed?
I don't think One of Us Is Lying would work then as I think from memory Simon and maybe his friend have a brief POV for a few pages, while the rest is mainly told through the rest of the four in the room.
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